The Optimist Print Edition: 11.11.11

vol. 100, no. 23

friday, November 11, 2011

1 SECTION, 8 PAGES

Draw the SHADES Dance group to perform in Ethnos

Arts page 5

adrian patenaude staff Photographer

The cast of Ethnos 2011 celebrates at the end of their first dress rehearsal Wednesday night in Cullen Auditorium. The annual cultural show produced by many of ACU’s international students will take place Friday and Saturday in Cullen Auditorium.

campus

Ethnos to highlight world tour in Cullen curtis christian student reporter Students, faculty and staff are invited to travel around the world with the performers in this year’s annual Ethnos Culture Show.

The performance put on by the International Students Association will show Friday and Saturday in Cullen Auditorium.

This year, Ethnos features 13 international acts and 150 performers, said

Ethnos Producer and Coordinator Veronica Whitt, senior family studies major from the Philippines. This weekend’s show features the same number of acts as last year but a greater number of performers.

Co-producer Lucius Patenaude, sophomore multimedia major from Thailand, said a skit spread over the entire performance weaves the international acts together.

The skit follows the story of five tourists, Witt said,

allowing native students to perform with their international classmates.

“We have made it more available for American students to get involved, and more have this year,” Whitt said.

SHADES Step Squad is performing in the Ethnos production. Women’s captain for SHADES Destiny Hagood, senior photojournalism major from Compton, Calif., said SHADES has been a part of Ethnos since the show began.

“We have always been an international group, but it is a good way for American students to get involved with the cultural show,” Hagood said.

The producers of the show are using everything from chalk drawings on campus walk ways to “flash mobs” in the mall area after Chapel to spread the word about this weekend’s performance. Whitt said ISA had some help getting creative to promote the event.

“We teamed up with

American Marketing Association and they gave us ideas of chalk drawings and the flash mobs, or sneaks, to advertize,” said Whitt, who also serves as president of ISA. Patenaude said ISA is encouraging attendants to purchase tickets before the show.

“Our goal is to sell out all the tickets before the opening night,” Patenaude said.

While the advertisements are created to attract the student body, Whitt said a majority of the attendants

are the host families and friends of the international students.

“We try to make it where everybody can enjoy it,” Whitt said.

The productions will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Cullen Auditorium. Tickets cost $7 when purchased at the door, $5 when purchased in advance. contact christian at cpc08a@acu.edu

accident

Reid’s life remembered in memorial ceremony

Students continue flow of support for victims julie coppedge student reporter A week has passed since the tragic bus accident, but the efforts of support have not let up.

Nikki’s Swirl Shoppe is conducting a fundraiser Saturday from noon through 11 p.m. to show support and raise funds for the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.

“The first Nikki’s Swirl Shoppe was the location on Judge Ely. ACU has had a big impact – most of the employees are from ACU,” said Jordan Abshier, Nikki’s assistant manager and junior marketing major from San Antonio. “We are just trying to give back to the

community. Obviously, this has affected pretty much the whole city, and this our chance to give back to the community to raise funds and help out.”

Nikki’s will donate 10 percent of the day’s proceeds to the family and victims affected by the accident. Additional donations will also be accepted.

The main fundraising event will take place at the Nikki’s Judge Ely location, but the Catclaw location will also donate 10 percent of its profits. The event will include music and raffle drawings.

But Nikki’s Swirl Shoppe isn’t the only fundraising initiative in progress.

marissa ferguson online editor

tendees Reid served a life of Christian service and that the memorial service would reflect that.

“We will laugh, cry and we’ll be inspired by the stories we share this evening,” Starcher said. “The good news of Jesus will be proclaimed because Anabel’s life was a reflection of the kingdom of God.” Starcher said Reid’s life reflected the truths found in Collosians 3, in which the Apostle Paul tells Christians, “you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you

Memorial messages left by students and others on campus hang on the door of the Zona Luce Building, honoring Anabel Reid, who was a student in the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.

Families, students and members of the community flooded into the Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock on Wednesday to celebrate the life of Anabel Reid.

Reid died Friday while on the way to serve at Medina Children’s Home. An ACU owned bus carrying 16 passengers lost control, hitting a concrete culvert.

The ceremony reflected the life of Reid. Pictures chronicling her life were shown as Hanson’s “MMMBop” and Rascal Flatt’s “Life is a Highway” played along in the background.

Bill Starcher, Broadway church minister, told at-

sports

opinion

video

news

Men’s basketball team to open season Friday night in Moody

Read why budget cuts shouldn’t be limited to faculty and staff layoffs

Special Report: Extended coverage of bus accident and tribute to Anabel Reid

Merging departments still have many unanswered questions

see support page 4

daniel gomez chief Photographer

see memorial page 4

inside

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page 6

Abilene Christian University

acuoptimist.com

page 3

FRiday 11.11.11

11 Friday

12

11 a.m. Veterans’ Day Tribute in Moody Coliseum

Saturday

13

1 p.m. ACU football vs.

Incarnate Word

sunday

1 p.m. Noah Project Walkathon at Elmer Gray Stadium

7:30 p.m. Ethnos Culture Show in Cullen Auditorium

14

9 a.m. ACU club hockey vs. Texas Christian Univeristy

monday

10 a.m. ACU club hockey vs. Oklahoma State University

3 p.m. Masterclass featuring guest artist series featuring Jeff “Tain” Watts in the Band Hall

Chapel checkup

Announcements

The ACU Fall Jazz Concert will take place Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in Cullen Auditorium. The concert will feature seven-time Grammy award winning drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts. Admission is free. Jeff Watts will also teach two master classes. The first is a drum

Season of Caring begins 11 a.m. Chapel in Moody Coliseum

7:30 p.m. Ethnos Culture Show in Cullen Auditorium

Ethnos will take place Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Cullen Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased in the Campus Center. Single tickets can be purchased in the Camps Center for $5, and bulk purchases of five tickets cost $15. Tickets will cost $7 at the door.

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set masterclass on Monday at 3 p.m. in the Band Hall. The second will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Recital Hall. These classes are open to the public.

The ACU Theatre Department will show Private Eyes Nov. 15-19 in Fulks Theatre.

Tickets will cost $15 and can be purchased at the box office in the Williams Performing Arts Center, or online at www.acu.edu/theatre.

The Campus Store will have a Vera Bradley sale through Nov. 14. A small duffel will be on sale for $54.

A Grad School Application Workshop will take place in the Department of History office Saturday from 2 - 4 p.m.

The office is located in the third floor of the Hardin Administration Building. History professors will be available to help students with their grad school applications. All majors are welcome.

Frontier Texas! will be accepting applications for the Miss Frontier Texas Scholarship Competition through Nov. 21. For more information visit www. missfrontiertexas.com.

Police police Log log

The Manhattan Piano Trio will perform a concert Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the William Performing Arts Center Recital Hall. Admission will be free.

54 17

Students who have registered for classes for Spring 2012 can begin reserving their textbooks. There is no extra charge, and students will receive a free bag with their order. Students must order books before Dec. 31. Books will be available for pick up the week before spring semester classes begin. For more information visit the Campus Store web site.

@acuoptimist The Optimist optimist@acu.edu

Weekly Stats for nov. 01 - 08, 2011

11/01/11 2:20 p.m. CRIMINAL MISCHIEF: An ACU student reported that someone had vandalized her vehicle by keying her vehicle and scratching profanity across the vehicle’s hood.

11/01/11 1 p.m. BURGLARY OF MOTOR VEHICLE: An ACU student reported the burglary of her vehicle. A GPS unit was taken from the vehicle.

11/02/11 3:30 p.m. BURGLARY OF MOTOR VEHICLE: An ACU student reported the burglary of their car. The right front window had been broken by an unknown object.

11/05/11 12:23 a.m. NOISE VIOLATION: ACUPD responded to a call of a loud party noise violation in the 2400 block of Madison.

11/05/11 1:47 a.m. NOISE VIOLATION: ACUPD responded to a call of a loud party noise violation in the 400 block of College.

11/06/11 1:20 a.m. NOISE VIOLATION/ASSIST: ACUPD responded to assist APD with 2 noise violation calls at The Grove Apartments.

Accident - 1 Administrative Activity - 13 Alarm - 3 Alcohol Incident - 2 Assist - 4 Building Lock/Unlock - 14 Burglary of Motor Vehicle - 4 Check Building - 18 Criminal Mischief - 4 Disturbance - 1 Investigation Follow-Up - 13 Motorist Assist: Inflate Tire - 1 Motorist Assist: Jump-start - 11 Motorist Assist: Other - 2

Motorist Assist: Unlock - 8 Noise Violation - 5 Other - 3 Parking Violation - 3 Patrol Vehicle: Maintenance - 6 Patrol Vehicle: Refuel - 5 Random Patrol - 1 Report Writing - 3 Suspicious Activity - 5 Traffic Stop - 2 Welfare Check - 4

Total Events: 139

Police Tip of the Week: Help prevent thefts from dorms and campus buildings. Never prop open doors and always report faulty doors and locks.

Volunteer Opp0rtunities Communities in Schools needs volunteers Friday from 1 - 3 p.m. or 5 - 9 p.m. at Ortiz Elementary School located at 2550 Vogel St. Volunteers will play games with children from 1 - 3 p.m. or help set up, run booths and take down their Fall Festival from 5 - 9 p.m. Volunteers can work at one or both events.

Contact Sheila Ashford at 325-671-4945 ext. 5351 or email sheila.ashford@abileneisd.org.

The American Business Women’s Association needs volunteers Friday - Sunday for various daytime and evening shifts to help with an event at the Abilene Civic Center. Volunteers will help primarily in the main concession stand. Contact Sydnye Moore at 325692-2633 or 325-428-1024 or email moore-h@att.net.

The International Rescue Committee is collecting coats, hats, jackets, gloves and blankets for refugees in Abilene who came to the U.S. with few possessions and who will need warm clothing. Donations can be dropped off daily from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at 3303 N. 3rd St., Suite D. For more information contact Aly Shanks at 325-675-5673 ext. 19 or email aly.shanks@rescue.org.

Oakridge Church of Christ needs volunteers to help with a children’s Bible Class. The class will take place every Wednesday night until Dec. 21 from 7 - 8 p.m. Volunteers will help with singing Bible songs, sanitizing toys and playing with kids.

Free dinner is included with the service. For more information contact Emerald Lemmons at 325-3701327 or email emeraldlemmons@gmail.com.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters program is looking for volunteers to participate in Lunch Buddies. Bigs and Littles will enjoy lunch together at the child’s school once a week. Students can earn Chapel credit for each visit. Big Brothers Big Sisters is also looking for volunteers for its Community Based program. Bigs are matched with Littles in a one-on-one relationship and spend four to six hours per month together in the community. To sign up or learn more visit www.bbbstx.org or call 325-674-3113.

Breakfast on Beech Street is looking for volunteers to help set up, prepare and serve breakfast to homeless or lower-income visitors any weekday.

The event begins at 5:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 5 a.m. on Tuesdays.

Serving time is 6:30 - 7:15 a.m. B.O.B.S is located at First Christian Church on N. 3rd Street and Beech Street in Downtown Abilene. For more information visit the First Christian Church website.

Rescue The Animals is looking for volunteers anytime between 1-5 p.m., Monday - Friday. They need help around the adoption center with general cleaning, socialization of the animals, helping potential adopters and other tasks. Contact Mindi Qualls at 325-698-7722 or email rescuetheanimalsvolunteers@ yahoo.com The center is located at 5933 S. 1st St. ACU Treadaway Kids is looking for volunteers to work with underprivileged kids Thursday evenings from 6 7:30 p.m. at the University Church of Christ. For more information contact Samantha Manski at 325-674-2828.

Meals on Wheels Plus needs volunteer drivers to deliver afternoon meals to seniors and adults with disabilities Mondays - Fridays between 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Drivers must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license. Training is provided. A Chapel exemption is available if delivery time conflicts with Chapel. Contact Jessica Stewart at 325-6725050 or email volunteer@mealsonwheelsplus.com.

The National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature is looking for volunteers to work Tuesday - Saturday from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. or 1 - 3 p.m. Volunteers will greet patrons, assist with art activities, sell books and make visitors feel welcome. Help is also needed for special events like exhibit openings. The Center is located at 102 Cedar St. For more information contact Debby Lillick at 325-673-4586 or visit the NCCIL website.

The Abilene Zoo is looking for volunteers to help with general labor such as grounds cleanup and painting any weekday at any time between noon and 4 p.m. The Zoo is located at 2070 Zoo Lane. Contact Joy Harsh at 325-676-6487 for more information.

The House That Kerry Built is looking for volunteers to assist in the day care of medically fragile children any day Monday - Friday from 8:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Contact Dave Kraly at 325-676-3104 or email medicalmoose@sbcglobal.net for more information.

The Betty Hardwick Center is looking for volunteers to participate in Special Olympics by helping mentally/ physically challenged people play games such as basketball, track and/or bowling Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. The Center is located at 801 Cypress St. Contact Angel Seca at 325-690-5235 for more information.

Habitat for Humanity needs volunteers to help with various construction tasks including carpentry, painting, cleaning up, installing cabinets and other tasks.

Volunteers are needed any day Monday - Saturday anytime from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Contact Steven Legget at 325-670-0489 or email sleggett@abilenehabitat.org.

Young Life Ministries needs volunteers Mondays, Tuesdays and weekends from 6 - 9 p.m. Volunteers will hang out with kids, experience leadership roles, serve others and introduce kids to Christ.

Young Life is located at 1917 S. 6th St. For more information contact Chuck Rodgers at 325-676-1211 or email clrodg@wrproperties.com.

The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers for a variety of needs including sorting items in the thrift store, helping in the kitchen and/or doing yard work. Times are flexible, and help is needed Monday - Saturday. The Salvation Army is located at 1726 Butternut St. For more information contact J.D. Alonzo at 325-677-1408 or visit www.satruck.com.

Abilene Hope Haven Inc. needs volunteers to provide childcare while parents are in class, any evening Monday - Thursday from 6:45 - 8:15 p.m. Abilene Hope Haven is located at 801 S. Treadaway Blvd. For more information contact Kathy Reppart at 325-6774673 or visit the Abilene Hope Haven website.

The Food Bank of West Central Texas needs volunteers to help sort and stock food and other items any weekday Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. The Food Bank is located at 5505 N. 1st St. For more information contact Janice Serrault at 325695-6311 or abfoodbk@camalott.com.

The Abilene Boys and Girls Club needs help any weekday between 3:30 - 6 p.m. helping children of all ages with games, art, gym time, reading and computer skills.

Locations are 4610 N. 10th St. or 1902 Shelton St. Contact Mark Denman at 325-672-1712 for more information.

Medical Care Mission is looking for volunteers to assist medical or dental staff with patients any weekday from 8:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. For more information contact Dave Kraly at 325-676-3104 or email medicalmoose@sbcglobal.net.

Abilene Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has various opportunities for volunteers ranging from visiting with residents to helping with Bingo. Volunteers are needed Monday, Wednesday or Thursday from 2 - 3 p.m. The Center is located at 2630 Old Anson Road. For more information contact Rita Raymond at 325-673-5101 or email cameron.grad@hotmail.com.

3

campus news

friday 11.11.11

health & fitness

Rec Center remains hot spot on campus christina burch multimedia managing editor Student response to the Royce and Pam Money Student Recreation and Wellness Center has been more positive than expected, said Brian Devost, executive director of the Rec Center. Still, the university is constantly looking for ways to better serve the campus.

Devost said he was pleased with the number of students who regularly use the Rec Center.

“The outcome has been tremendous,” Devost said.

“It has been everything we expected it to be and more.”

He said the new building had initial “growing pains,” in which several changes were made to cater to students’ needs and preferences. One recent change was the configuration of the exercise equipment on the main floor.

“We found that if we moved the machines around, it would open up space and accommodate

more people,” Devost said.

“Who knows, we might be working on a new configuration next month.”

Devost said he encourages students to provide feedback on the facility’s functionality.

“Keep letting us know,” Devost said. “We feed off of their input, and that’s how we operate.”

The Rec Center houses more than just avid gym-goers and exercise science students. This week, intramural volleyball and waterball brought hundreds of additional guests to the facility.

In one of the first waterball games of the season, Caroline Campbell, sophomore family studies major from Abilene, played for the Ko Jo Kai team in the Tuesday night game against Alpha Kai Plus.

As one of the team’s rovers, Campbell said she had to focus on continuously swimming to retrieve the ball and to pass it back and forth to her teammates for the goal. She said her defensive guarding and dunking even brought an

opponent to tears.

“It was intense and so tiring,” Campbell said. “When they pulled me out of the pool my legs felt shredded.”

In addition to intramural games and her Thursday night skiing class, Campbell said enjoys using the facility for networking.

“Instead of going out to eat with your friends, you can be active and play volleyball with them,” Campbell said.

The Money Center is free to all ACU students. Since the Rec Fest grand opening on Sept. 2, hundreds of students have visited the fitness hub daily.

“I feel like I’ve met more people there than anywhere else,” Campbell said. “There’s always somebody you know, and they end up bringing their friends, too.”

Students can expect a new fitness center feature in the form of a “Wellness System Key,” which Devost said the university hopes to fully integrate the university into the campus community for next spring.

daniel gomez chief Photographer

Matt Preston, sophomore ministry major from Abilene, and Zach Higgins, junior information systems major Lincoln, Calif., take advantage of the volleyball courts in the Pam and Royce Money Student Recreation Center.

The key will help students keep track of workouts, log workout efficiency and determine whether they have met their goals.

“The Wellness System Key is very intuitive and very popular,” Devost said. “You just put it in,

university

Departments await merger details zane goggans student reporter The Department of Foreign Language amd the Department of Sociology and Family Studies will merge with other departments as the university realigns its budget for next year.

The new budget plan will be explained to all ACU faculty and staff on Nov. 17.

The plan includes position losses for several faculty members as well as eliminating one and integrating two existing departments in order to maintain economic stability for the university.

The Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences is also facing reorganization, but that plan remains in limbo.

The foreign language department will combine into the Department of English,

and the sociology and family studies department will mix into the Department of Political Science, the College of Biblical Studies and the College of Education and Human Services.

Since the new plan will not be presented in detail until next week, many unanswered questions are still looming for some faculty.

Harland Rall, chair of the Department of Foreign Languages, said he is not sure what next year will look like for his department.

“We don’t know,” Rall said. “We will work with the English department but those decisions about how it will work have not been worked out yet.”

Rall said the curriculum will remain the same, and credits to and from other universities will still be able to transfer over. Those are the only plans he knows

will happen, he said.

Cole Bennett, chair of the English department and associate professor of English, said he will not be sure of any details until President Schubert presents the plan.

“They have literally told me nothing other than Foreign Language is going to merge with English. That’s it,” Bennett said.

Three other departments will absorb the sociology and family studies department. Some students remain optimistic about the future of the department.

Logan Cole, junior family studies major from Abilene, embraces the merge.

“I think it’s good,” Cole said. “I think that family studies needs more Bible in it to begin with for people like me. I want my Jesus in my family.”

Cole said he has seen his department grow over the

local

Season of Caring brings community together jeff craig staff reporter For the second consecutive year, the ACU community has a service opportunity to help families in the Christmas season.

In a Chapel address Wednesday, Dr. Phil Schubert, president of the university, implored students to participate in Season of Caring, a month-long opportunity to pray, volunteer and serve.

Nancy Coburn, director of the Service-Learning and Volunteer Resources Center, said Season of Caring gives students, faculty and staff a tangible way to help out as the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays approach.

“It’s a way for us as ACU to collectively help as many as we can,” Coburn said. “We know we have many blessings, so we want to help.”

Coburn said the first opportunity to serve is simple.

A large truck will be collecting household items, bedding and food between noon-6 p.m.

MondayThursday in the parking lot near the Williams Performing Arts Center.

The collected goods will be delivered to Arrow Ford next Friday to support Mission Thanksgiving, an annual collection sponsored by Abilene-based non-profit Love and Care Ministries.

Last year, ACU students filled the bottom of a 24foot truck 5 feet high with goods. Mission Thanksgiving collected 11 semi trailers full of clothes, food and other items overall last year.

More than $140,000 was also raised.

“ACU has a lot of connections with Love and Care Ministries,” Coburn said.

“There are many ministries in Abilene that reach out to homeless and hungry. Love and Care Ministries is wellestablished, and there is a huge need.”

In addition to collecting goods, individuals can also help provide Thanksgiving meals to some local families. Funds are being collected to provide turkey and sides to 65 families at Taylor Elementary School. Donors can bring contributions to the Center for Christian Service and Leadership until Nov. 21.

Volunteers are also needed to help assemble food boxes on Nov. 20. This is the 11th year food boxes have been collected for families at Taylor Elementary School.

There are also two opportunities to give under-privileged children Christmas presents. Love and Care Ministries hopes to collect and wrap 600 toys in time for Christmas and Treadaway Kids is offering an Adopt an Angel program.

Those interested in helping Treadaway Kids can collect an angel with a wishlist for a specific child from Nov. 14-22. All completed wish lists are due Dec. 2.

Season of Caring is a chance for those who can help to give back in a real and tangible way, Coburn said.

“We’re called to attend to poor and needy all throughout scriptures.

Holidays are a special time of year when our society is aware of need in the community,” she said. “We have an opportunity collectively to make a big dif-

ference. A little bit goes a long way, especially when we put our little bits together.”

ACU’s Student Action Leadership Team is playing a big role in helping spread the word about Season of Caring and recruiting volunteers.

SALT Administrator Karissa Sherry, senior advertising and public relations major from Sherman, said SALT is administering the program to collect Thanksgiving meals.

“We wanted it to be a part of Season of Caring because one of our main goals is to get people involved in things on campus and that’s what Season of Caring is all about,” Sherry said. “We wanted to make that an even bigger part.”

Sherry said she hopes every student will take advantage of the many chances to serve the Season of Caring is offering.

“There are so many different opportunities to get involved,” she said. “You can use a lot of your gifts to do different things. You can do one little thing to make a big difference here in Abilene.”

Financial contributions can be dropped off at the information kiosk in the McGlothlin Campus Center or brought to the Center for Christian Leadership and Service. To learn more about a Season of Caring of to volunteer, visit facebook.com/seasonofcaring. Volunteers can also email seasonofcaring@acu.edu. contact craig at jrc07D@acu.edu

past three years since he has been at ACU from about 50 students to over 100, leaving no worries for the future of his major. Cole expects the merge will create more solidity within the department.

“More people will change to family studies because it’s in the Bible department now,” Cole said.

“I think the Bible department will help it become a more stable major.” contact goggans at zdg08b@acu.edu

and it remembers all your settings.”

Devost said he believes this initiative will bring positive attention to ACU as the first university to use it.

“The Student Recreation and Wellness Center really is a drawing card for students

who are selecting universities for next year,” Devost said. “The more we can sculpt the facility, the better it’ll be down the road.” contact burch at clb10b@acu.edu

news

friday 11.11.11

4

organizations

Multicultural enrichment planning traditional and new diverse campus events meagan freeman student reporter The Office of Mulitcultural Enrichment is planning several on-campus events to celebrate its’ mission of embracing diversity.

The plans include the traditional events, such as the annual Ethnos Culture Show and the annual Black History Production, and new events, such as movie nights, basketball tournaments and Chapel groups.

“The office provides the campus with educational and enriching opportunities on topics and issues relevant to diversity to ensure all students graduate prepared for global, missional, Christian leadership,” said.

Russ Kirby, director of student multicultural enrichment and support.

Events like the Ethnos Culture Show expose students to other cultures and helps them understand and appreciate diversity.

Ethnos allows students to experience a multitude of worldviews and traditions, said Byron Martin, assistant director of student multicultural enrichment and support.

“This event gives students a way to express culture on campus,” he said. “Some students made a huge sacrifice coming to ACU and had to leave behind a rich culture. Here they can offer it up as a gift to others.”

Another annual occasion is the Black History Production, which creates an opportunity for students to learn about African-American culture during Black History month.

This year has brought

many new ideas to the office with the leadership of Kirby and Martin. Events are being added to the Office of Multicultural Enrichment’s calendar under their direction.

Martin said many of these events are still in the planning stages.

One of these events is multicultural movie nights, which would present a movie or documentary focused on diversity.

“This would be a venue to give students the chance to experience these movies that are usually not seen in theaters,” Martin said.

Another event is a threeon-three basketball tournament. Martin said he would like for this to be a huge charity fundraiser.

“We would have music blaring, and play street ball like when we were little on the playground,” he said.

Martin said there is one event that holds a special place in his heart: monthly multicultural chapel, held on the first Thursday of every month.

“I love multicultural Chapel. If I were to picture heaven I would picture multicultural Chapel,” Martin said. “Every race and minority is represented, they have a voice there. Everyone is talking to God in their own way.”

Both Martin and Kirby said they have a specific vision for the office’s future.

“We believe diversity on campus can enrich the entire campus,” Kirby said. “This is such a great institution and we can go much higher and do more things.” contact freeman at mkh05a@acu.edu

adrian patenaude Staff Photographer

Vanessa Whitt, former ACU student from Cebu, Philippines, performs one of her culture’s traditional dances in which dancers twist and refold a cloth throughout the routine.

campus

Students take on SNAP challenge It takes time.”

Dial and Medlicott both online editor agreed that students can still participate even while Students on campus are eating in the Bean with the raising awareness for the aid of a mobile learning Supplemental Nutrition As- device. A free iPhone and sistance Program (SNAP), iTouch application can be formerly the food stamp downloaded that searches program. In doing this, the for the cheapest price of university has been invited food items around town. to partake in a food stamp Challengers may then determine their portion price. challenge.

They also suggest tak“The food stamp challenge is for one week where ing on the challenge with a you only eat meals that add buddy system.

“Have an accountabilup to one dollar,” said Rebecca Dial, junior political ity partner,” Medlicott said. science and finance major “It’s hard to do and would from Lexington, South Car- be easy to forget or cheat.”

Students who take on the olina, said. “So, it’s one dollar per meal, or three dollars food stamp challenge will a day. You also try to eat as benefit by gaining perspechealthy as possible, things tive, Dial said.

“The main incentive for like fresh fruits, vegetables participants would have to and whole grains.”

By living off just $21 of food per week, students I wanted to really change and faculty have the oppeople’s mindsets about portunity to simulate what eating is like on the nationhow people on these wide average food stamp benefits live.” benefit. SNAP is a nutrition assistance program whose rebecca dial junior political science goal is to alleviate hunger major from lexington, S.C. and malnutrition for households needing assistance.

“Food stamps are help be intrinsically motivated,” from the government to she said. “It helps you betfamilies, but it’s minimal. ter understand what people They aren’t living big,” said are going through. It may Elizabeth Medlicott, junior not be the exact represenbiology pre-med major tation, but I think it allows from Denton. “There will you to connect better with always be people that take those people you meet in advantage of the system, life. You’ll be able to better but it’s in place for a reason. minister to them and be It’s here for the families that able to have a relationship with them.” are in need of assistance.”

Dial said there is no set Dial said she felt inspired to make this challenge a re- time for the food stamp ality after being involved in challenge. Those wanting the Pope Fellows seminar in to participate are encourDallas and working with a aged to begin at a time convenient for them. Howfood bank.

“It really impacted me, ever, with Thanksgiving apand I felt that this is some- proaching, she believes its thing that especially ACU purpose can serve as an opcould benefit from, since portunity to be thankful.

“It helps us realize how most of us are better off and have never experienced blessed we are. Food is this,” she said. “I just want- something we take for ed to really change people’s granted a lot,” Medlicott mindsets about how people said. “Yes, I’ve been on budgets sometimes where on these benefits live.”

Those wishing to take I can’t get all the groceries the challenge are required I want, but I’ve always had to “do the math” when pre- a meal. I’ve never had to paring meals. This entails go without food. We’re just dividing the price of the all very blessed, and this challenge a great way to be food by its serving.

“With a lot of these awakened.”

For more information, meals, it is possible to eat cheap and reasonable,” visit the challenge’s FaceMedlicott said. “I can have book page. a chicken breast and green beans, which is a very contact ferguson at healthy meal, for a dollar. mlf10a@acu.edu But, you have to plan it out.

marissa ferguson

adrian patenaude Staff Photographer

In preparation for Ethnos 2011, ACU international students and students interested in culture rehearse traditional dances and other acts Wednesday night in Cullen Auditorium.

summer camps

Registration begins for ACU camps meiqi zhang student reporter About 300 to 400 people have signed up for ACU Leadership Camps since registration began Nov. 2.

About 1450 campers participated last summer, and the Leadership Camps office set a goal of hosting 1,500 to 1,600 campers next summer.

ACU Leadership Camps conduct five camps: Kadesh, MPulse, Learning to Lead and KidQuest on the ACU campus. In addition, the Cross Training camp takes place in the mountain of Sipapu, N.M.

“[The camps] are all about spiritual development for young people,” said Jan Meyer, executive director of ACU Leadership Camps. “Our desire is to equip all ages of students for a spiritual journey. We are training them to be disciples of Jesus.”

2012 will be the 30th year for leadership camps on campus. Leadership Camps began in 1982 with a vision to meet a growing concern for leadership training among young people, Meyer said. Kadesh was the first camp offered for high school students.

Learning to Lead began being offered to upper-ele-

mentary school students in 1985, and MPulse was first offered to middle school students in 1997.

Even though the primary goal is not to recruit students to ACU, it naturally happens, Meyer said.

Many children who have come to the camp end up attending in ACU. “In the past a few years around 15 percent of campers actually come to ACU,” said Casey McCollum, director of ACU Leadership Camps said. “We have camp chapel once a month and we invite them to come. We also encourage former campers to be counselors for us.”

Each camp includes different activities. Kadesh has service projects in the afternoons, leaving the campus to do service projects around the community of Abilene.

“We want to really teach them how to read the words of God by themselves, experience community with God and with each other,” Meyer said. “One of the things we worked on is for each age group, asking them what can you do with your faith in the world to make difference.” contact zhang at mxz07a@acu.edu

accident

Memorial: Reid’s life remembered as a ‘blessing’ continued from page 1 died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

“She understood what life was about,” he said.

Anabel’s father, Ron Reid, said even during her time on Earth, she was not of this world. And Anabel touched the hearts of many, friends said. Emily

Sims, a Broadway member, said Reid was one of her closest mentors.

“There are not enough words to thank God for the blessing Anabel was in my life,” Sims said. “I met her at a time when I was trying to figuring out what it means to be a disciple.

She was one of the closest reflections of God’s love, service and purpose that I ever found.”

Stories of Anabel’s spirit were shared by readings

from her friends, family and ministers.

All who spoke remembered Anabel by her readiness to serve, friendly demeanor and Godly attitude.

Alex Wann, Anabel’s boyfriend and ACU alumnus, read portions of Reid’s personal journal, emphasizing that Christian commitment.

“I pray that I learn, grow, experience, gain wisdom, love, serve and give glory to God in all that I do,” Reid wrote in a journal en-

try on Aug. 23, 2010. “My prayer is simple, yet has an unmatched desire to me, that I may live and do great things for God and his kingdom all to his glory. I can’t wait to see God one day, to hear him say, ‘Well done, good and faithful child.’”

To watch Reid’s celebration of life, visit http://blogs. acu.edu/iwanttohelp/. contact ferguson at mlf10a@acu.edu

accident

“

Support: Students raise funds to benefit victims continued from page 1 A group of students are currently making and selling bracelets to benefit the family of Anabel Reid, the only fatality of the accident.

“Anabel was a fan of the survival bracelets and wanted to buy one right before she died,” said Colt Lockhart, sophomore

convergence journalism major from Merkel.

Reid had seen a survival bracelet attached to a friend’s backpack and said she would purchase one the next week, he said. Lockhart and his friends gave the pink and purple bracelet to Anabel’s mother.

“Now in memory of Anabel, we are going to be mak-

ing these survival bracelets in these colors and selling them. All the money from it will go to benefit Anabel’s family,” Lockhart said.

The bracelets will be sold Monday through Thursday in the Campus Center for a minimum $5 donation. The pink and purple bracelets are made of woven parachute chord.

Hardin-Simmons grad-

uates are also joining the fundraising force. Local musician and recent HSU graduate Michael Whisenhunt caught wind of the tragic news and decided to organize the “Funded the Farmers” benefit concert.

The concert will take place tonight in the Old Hamby Gym at 6 p.m.

“Friday when I heard all the news, I just had this

idea to put on a fundraiser concert,” Whisenhunt said.

The concert will feature Erin’s Charm, Blinded by Bears with Lawton Pybus, Daniel Hixon, The Swindlers, 21 in June and the Kirk House Band.

A $10 entry fee is suggested. Additional donations can be made at the concert to support students and families.

Whisenhunt said the goal of this fundraiser is to ease the financial burden this accident has placed on families so they can spend more time being together.

To donate financially or find other ways to serve the cause, visit blogs.acu.edu/ iwanttohelp/. contact coppedge at jac08b@acu.edu

5

arts

friday 11.11.11

destiny hagood staff photographer

SHADES of COLOR

Ethnos displays dance group’s muticulturalism samantha sutherland features editor

Daniel Gomez Chief photographer

ga dance shows and select days in the World Famous Bean. For the Ethnos routine, the Shades team prepared on short notice. The members put together and perfected the entire routine in less than four weeks, Hagood said.

“This step is complicated. It’s one of the hardest steps we’ve done so far,” Hagood said.

Shades is currently 21 members strong, 13 of which are new. Hagood said the leadership team does a good job of identifying problems and addressing conflict in the group right away.

cause they know everyone doesn’t learn fast.”

Hagood said the group was a great thing to get involved with on campus because it gives an opportunity for students to try something new and challenging while being part of a close family.

“It builds character, and it builds people’s confidence,” Hagood said.

See Shades perform as part of the Ethnos show this Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in Cullen Auditorium.

“Even when personalities clash, it doesn’t stop us from being a family,” Hagood said.

Hagood was new to the school when she first became involved with Shades, and it gave her an opportunity to connect with people. She said she appreciated the way they taught routines at a manageable pace.

“Even if you don’t know the dance or step to perfection, they can see that you’re trying and your effort and your heart, and that’s one of the main things I was drawn to,” Hagood said. “They work slow, be-

contact sutherland at sns08a@acu.edu destiny hagood staff photographer

Shades, a step and hip hop group on campus, will take the stage in this weekend’s Ethnos Culture Show.

“Shades is a multicultural group that comes together to serve God through dancing and stepping,” said Destiny Hagood, senior photojournalism major from Compton, Calif.

Shades started more than 10 years ago with a very strong multicultural identity. The name “Shades” is meant to signify

the many different shades of skin, Hagood said.

“We are a community group, which means that students can get community service through doing it, because it’s not required and we aren’t asking any members for dues,” Hagood said.

Participants in Shades receive service hours and participate in projects like painting murals in parks.

The group’s saying is, “You come as you are with Shades.” Everyone is encouraged to try it out, and anyone can be a part of the group if they are willing to work hard and have the

heart to do it, Hagood said.

“A lot of people say, ‘Oh, I can’t do step,’ but if you just come and try, you would love it just as much as we do,” Hagood said. “Some of the people who have never done step before have grown from that, and they’re still in Shades today.”

Catrina Bailey, junior electronic media major from Riverside, Calif., has a history in ballet, hip hop and jazz, but chose to join Shades to learn something new and meet people.

“I love to perform, and the family atmosphere of Shades is something that brought me back this semester,” Bailey said. “It’s a challenge because it’s not what I’m used to. I’m not used to this style of dancing, but it’s a good challenge, and I like it.”

Shades performs at events such as Art Walk, ACU’s preview days, Ome-

TOP: Shades members rehearse in preparation for their performance in Ethnos this weekend.

RIGHT: Shades performed to a packed crowd during RecFest this fall.

FAR RIGHT: Ashton Hall, senior biology education major from Austin, rehearses her moves during Shades auditions in September.

Jazz drummer brings Grammy experience to campus DAVID SINGER ARTS EDITOR ACU will welcome jazz drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts for multiple performances and master classes early next week.

Watts, a seven time Grammy Award winner, has played alongside the likes of jazz musicians Wynton and Branford Marsalis as well as Harry Connick, Jr. He has written and arranged music for groups as both a member and leader and also spent three years as the drummer for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

“I wouldn’t hesitate to call Jeff one of the greatest drummers alive,” said Derek Brown, director of jazz studies.

Brown directs ACU’s jazz ensemble and jazz combos and plays with the faculty jazz ensemble. He has worked each year to bring

a prominent jazz musician to campus. In recent years, Brown brought in Jeff Coffin, the saxophonist for the Dave Matthews Band, and Christian McBride, a famous bassist.

“I try to bring in a guest artist every year,” he said.

“It’s just great for the students to interact with them and get pumped about playing.”

Brown first saw Watts play as a backup drummer at a concert while he was in college. “[Watts] kind of stole the show,” said Brown. “He was unbelievable.”

Bringing musicians to campus is one of the greatest events for students, said Brown.

“You can tell they just want to play their best,” he said. “They are really focused on whoever is here just listening to what they have to say. These guys are doing what [the students]

dream of doing, being professional musicians.”

Students will have many opportunities to play with, learn from and watch the world-class instrumentalist.

Watts arrives in Abilene on Monday and will lead a free jazz drumming class in the band hall of the Williams Performing Arts Center at 3 p.m. On Tuesday, he will lead a second class, focused on other instruments, at 11 a.m. in the WPAC Recital Hall.

Cullen Auditorium will host a free show featuring Watts playing alongside ACU’s various jazz groups on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Afterward, Watts will conduct a jam session at Monks coffee shop where he will play with anyone who wants to join him on stage. photo courtesy of oliver link contact SINGER at dis08b@acu.edu

Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts, a seven time Grammy winning jazz drummer, lead two classes and perform twice for students during his two days in Abilene.

opinion

Friday 11.11.11

6

Column

Luxuries must be cut with personnel With the news of several faculty positions being cut and entire departments being dismantled and merged, it’s easy to see why many students are upset with the university’s restructuring plan.

The university is facing a budget shortfall, and cuts have to be made to keep from accumulating debt. The most effective way to cut costs is to reduce faculty and staff.

Salaries made up the largest single expense of the university’s 2010 budget.

Forty-five percent of the

$126 million budget was used to pay faculty, staff and administration.

Downsizing and consolidating are necessary and cut costs quickly, but not painlessly. People who enhanced our education – and who we love – are leaving.

Though the majority of the budget cuts have to be made up of salaries, we should also cut luxuries. Our day-to-day lives should ref lect the fact that professors and colleagues are packing their offices into a box and leaving.

Some may view the administration’s move as cutting out a bit of the heart to save the body of the university.

All of us, including the faculty losing their jobs, have had to cut back on some luxuries throughout this recession. The university should do the same.

The cost of these pale in comparison to the amount a faculty member makes in a year, but it shows a physical example of the cutbacks the university is making and would re-

store confidence that the administration is making the right decisions.

This proves that the university isn’t throwing away faculty and staff while continuing on in a posh, pre-budget crisis lifestyle.

As we’ve seen in many circles throughout this worldwide economic crisis, no budget cutback, however small, is an easy one to make. On a federal, state and local government level, and even within our own businesses and households, we’ve all

Oh Dear, Christian College

Ben miller

the issue Quite a few faculty and staff positions have been cut because of the budgetary gap.

our take Luxuries should also be cut even though they don’t save the university much money.

had to make some difficult cutbacks and changes on how we spend our ever-tightening sources of income. We believe that while some faculty and staff layoffs are necessary and inevitable, these must not be the only places in the university’s budget

where cuts are made.

The faculty and staff looking for a new job are tightening their belts, we should do the same.

contact the optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu

column

Optimist friendships transcend job success Centennial Column PAUL A. ANTHONY

column

Sibiling relationship matures once upon a hannah

hannah barnes

Anyone with siblings knows that one of the sibling gets blamed for everything the other one does. In my case, my brother was the one that constantly got in trouble for things that I had done.

I’ll go ahead and say it, I was a brat. My little brother was the nice one out of the two of us. As a 3-yearold, Christian offered to take spankings in my place, just so I would not have to feel the pain. All the while, I would pinch, hit and pull on him.

Nevertheless, he showed no malice toward me. He cried and told on me, but still treated me lovingly.

Our relationship did not change much until I got into high school.

Sure, he was still the annoying little brother, but we became better friends once we were both a little more mature.

So one would not be surprised that I was upset by the fact that he wanted to enlist in the Air Force as soon as he graduated from high school.

I blew it off at first, thinking it was just a phase and that it would eventually pass. However, it did not pass. Christian continued his plan to enlist throughout the following summer and his senior year.

I tried, and when I say tried I mean tried very hard, to discourage him from going into the service. He’d had such a bright future ahead of him: he was enrolled in a culinary program at his high school; he got a job as a chef at a pretty upscale restaurant. The military was not for him, I thought.

He constantly argued with my mom, who like

me, did not want to see him in the Air Force. His high school graduation got closer and closer, and his decision was not wavering. Still, I hoped and prayed that he would change his mind.

Last summer, it became final. I had come home from studying abroad in time for his high school graduation, and there were only a few days left with him before he had to go. “He probably won’t like it,” I thought. “This is not his ‘thing.’”

On the last night he spent at home with my family, my mom dad deeply struggled with the thought that their son was leaving. While I tried to comfort my aching parents, I too was dealing with all kinds of emotions. I was nervous, worried, sad – but happiness was not at all part of what I was feeling.

So, he left. It was hard to say goodbye, but he did what he felt he needed to do. A few months later, after countless letters and sparse phone calls, he was to graduate from Lack-

land Air Force Base in San Antonio.

My family made the 10hour trek to the hot, muggy city, endured the terrible humidity and watched my brother graduate from boot camp.

It was then, when I was standing outside in the 100 degree heat, watching him stand at attention, that I felt something other than sadness and anxiety.

I felt proud – proud that my brother was self less enough to commit himself to serve his country, proud that my little brother had grown to make his own decisions and not let others inf luence them, proud that my brother Christian had grown up.

Turns out the Air Force was his thing. He will be deployed to Japan within the next two weeks. After lots of different emotions throughout the course of three years, I am finally just excited that he is getting the opportunity to live and grow up. contact barnes at hab08a@acu.edu

When I was 21 and ready to graduate from ACU, I viewed my two years as Optimist editor through these lenses: • The awards we won, signifying we were the best college newspaper in Texas.

• The controversies we battled through, signifying we were holding student leaders and university administrators alike accountable for their actions.

Seven years later, I realize how wrong that definition was.

Those things certainly were important. As a staff, we held ourselves to the standards of a professional newspaper, and seeing that work recognized was gratifying.

Likewise, we expected openness and transparency from the university and competence and professionalism from student government. When those entities fell short, we saw it as well within our journalistic role to highlight those problems and call for improvement on behalf of the student body.

This led to conflict and controversy – enough of it to fill a book – and ultimately to a blank front page with only the First Amendment printed on it.

It was a wild, stressful, rewarding ride, and when it was all over, new editors moved in and the staffs changed over. The Optimist offices themselves were demolished and rebuilt elsewhere. Other awards were won. Different controversies came and went. ACU moved on, as it has for 106 years, and so did the Optimist, as it has for nearly 100.

But our friendships remained.

When I was 21, I failed to recognize the most valuable things I had received from my eight semesters on the Optimist staff were not the certificates or trophies, not the bruising battles over Chapel or homosexuality, not even the training and

preparation for an ultimately short career in journalism.

It took some time in the real world to recognize that relationships are more important than any byline, friendships more worthwhile than any scoop.

I learned that the hard way.

As a reporter for the San Angelo Standard-Times, I spent a year as the lead reporter covering the state removal of hundreds of children from a polygamous sect’s West Texas compound. Competing against reporters from across the country, we scored enough scoops to end up with airtime on CNN, Fox News and NPR, among others.

But I was miserable, and a year later, I left journalism.

I had lost sight of the true lessons I’d learned at the Optimist. I thought the more successful I was as a reporter, the more complete I would be, neglecting entirely the importance of being successful as a person, husband, father and friend.

I am fiercely proud of the work we did as a staff during my years as editor. Our little band of 10-15 students, receiving little to no pay, commanded the respect of bigtime daily newspapers from humongous public universities in Texas.

But I am prouder of the bonds we forged during that time. When the papers we created disintegrate into yellow dust, when the trophies we won are covered with dust and forgotten, we will still be friends.

There is no greater legacy worth having.

contact Optimist at jmcnetwork@acu.edu

hashtagACU 11:57 p.m. Nov. 9

5:34 p.m. Oct. 31

I think 43 chapel credits shows that I try to go sometimes. That’s the point, to try to go, right? #isitchurchorclasspleasebeclearacu

@Benaconda7

12:12 p.m. Nov. 9

Yeah, its so sad that Joe Paterno’s legacy is tarneshed. What’s also sad is 30 YEARS OF CHILD MOLESTATION.

@JaceAvery

10:14 p.m. Nov. 7

If I had a dime for every time I remembered my keys and ID for class I would have no dimes. #lockedoutgirl

@emilyalyssasays

editorial and Letter Policy Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Optimist and may not necessarily reflect the views of the university or its administration.

Signed columns, cartoons and letters are the opinions of their creators and may not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of the Optimist or the university.

The Optimist encourages reader response through letters to the editor but reserves the right to limit frequent contributors or to refuse to print letters containing

personal attacks, obscenity, defamation, erroneous information or invasion of privacy. Please limit letters to 350 words or fewer. A name and phone number must be included for verification purposes. Phone numbers will not be published.

published by the department of journalism and mass communication editorial and management board

Address letters to: ACU Box 27892 Abilene, TX 79609 E-mail letters to: optimist@acu.edu

newsroom (325) 674-2439

dropped a plate of pasta. tried to catch it mid-drop. didn’t. got splattered on the face with marinara sauce. this is my life

@sarahhdianee

3:23 p.m. Nov. 9

I survived registration for Spring 2012. In and out of Banner in under 14 minutes. #getonmylevel #freshmanregistration @ overheardACU

8:57 a.m. Nov. 8

Today I don’t feel like doing anything. I just want to lay in my bed. #brunomars

@carliewalters

@kbays11

Hannah barnes

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7

sports Jumps

Friday 11.11.11

cross country

Susset wins regional title, Goldsmith fourth Kristin goodspeed sports reporter Two cross country women placed in the top five at the regional tournament, while the men finished in 26th, 37th and 57th against their competitors.

Chloe Susset won the NCAA Division II South Central Regional title for the Wildcats on Saturday in Wichita Falls. She finished with a time of 21:37.90, out-running women from Midwestern State, Pittsburg State and other Division II schools.

The victory gives the ACU women seven regional gold medals in the last 10 years. This is the second-straight year head coach Chris Woods has led an individual to victory at

the regional meet.

Teammate Alyse Goldsmith, junior from Katy, came in fourth place with a time of 21:50.70. Because both women finished in the top five, they qualified for the NCAA II National Championships, which will take place in Spokane, Wash. on Nov. 19.

“I’m not surprised with the outcome of Chloe winning and Alyse coming in the top five,” Woods said. “With the way they’ve been progressing this season, I had every bit of confidence they’d qualify for nationals. I’m extremely proud of both of them.”

Susset, junior from France, said she previewed the 6k, or 3.75 miles, course Friday and knew exactly which path she wanted to take.

“Where I need to be

“

I’m extremely proud of both [Susset and Goldsmith] of them.” chris woods head coach acu cross country

each part of the race and other details are the elements I focus on. I started in the back at the conference meet and couldn’t zig-zag through the pack of girls. I had to wait for gaps.

I’m glad that happened though, because I started out faster at regionals.”

Susset said she has to race in France against Russians who are minutes ahead of her in their training for the Olympics.

“I just want to race,” Susset said. “I like to com-

pete at regionals because it’s at my level. I can control the race and win.”

For the past two years, Susset has run in the back of the race. This year, however, with a faster time, she made her way to the front.

“I’ve killed myself in workouts. I quit one workout and just couldn’t do it anymore, but it made sense at regionals when I was the strongest because I’d been training so much.”

Cross country members wore a ribbon Saturday morning in memory of Anabel Reid, who was killed in an ACU bus accident Friday. When Susset finished the race, Woods said he went over to congratulate her, and she touched the black ribbon pinned to her jersey.

“She kept saying ‘I did

it for her,’” Woods said. “It gave me goose-bumps.”

Susset didn’t know Reid but said several of her friends did. The death affected Susset and Goldsmith, and it motivated them to represent Reid the best way they could. “’It showed a lot about their character, compassion and commitment,” Woods said. “They pulled positive energy from a tragic event.”

As for the men, Fabian Wessel-Terharn came in 26th, followed by teammates William Pike in 37th and Erik Forrister in 57th.

Wessel-Terharn was one spot away from receiving all-region honors.

Woods said the team is one or two men away from being back on top of the conference and region.

“We are almost there.

With Fabian being a freshman, I feel positive where he’ll be moving forward the next three or four years. I’m proud of the entire season Will Pike put together. He was more consistent this season and stepped up as an individual. This is also the best season Erik and I have ever had together. He made some personal records and as he gets older, he’ll only get better and become a solid runner.”

The race in Spokane,Wash., will be Susset and Goldsmith’s first national appearance for cross country, and Woods said they are focused.

“The road doesn’t end here,” Woods said. “We still have one more race to run.” contact goodspeed at klg08a@acu.edu

soccer

Host: ’Cats hope to put loss behind them from page 8 said. “It’s something we don’t want to feel again because the next one will have a terminal cost.”

The fifth-seeded Mustangs are led by all-LSC selections Kelsey Hill and Lindsay Pritchard, who have combined to score 49 of the Mustangs’ 104 points this season.

Mallory Whitworth, MSU goalkeeper, has posted five shutouts and a 0.70 goals against average on the season.

“Midwestern is riding a hot streak right now,” Wilson said. “Against them, it would be extremely important to come out early and dictate the flow and tempo of the game.”

St. Edwards also has been on ACU’s radar since

“

its last four matches by a combined score of 15-2.

“St. Edwards is a very talented and dangerous team,” Wilson said. “They move the ball well and play a possescasey wilson sion game. Athlete for athhead coach lete, there is not a lot of room acu women’s soccer for error against them.”

ACU is coming off its this time last season. The first loss this season and Hilltoppers defeated ACU is eager to get back on the in the same game as the field and put the loss bepotential matchup last hind them.

“Our girls are just ready year in penalty kicks (4-3) prior to being tied at 1 af- to play and put Sunday’s game behind them,” Wilson ter regulation in Austin.

“Last year ended on a said. “We owe each of these sour note against them, teams a game, and we’re so that game is definitely looking forward to the opserving as motivation for portunity presented to us.” this one,” said senior goalkeeper Elliott London.

The Hilltoppers (15-2-1) contact shake at have caught fire as of late, bxs09a@acu.edu too. The team has won

We owe each of these these teams a game, and we’re looking forward to the opportunity presented to us.”

column

Paterno should not be blamed for tragedy Coach Paterno was fired Wednesday evening.

JoePa, as he commonly referred to, was let go because he failed to follow The Sports Jedi up on a report that his foraustin gwin mer defensive coordinator For the last week, the me- Jerry Sandusky was seen dia of the sports world has sexually abusing a young zeroed in on Happy Valley, boy in the Penn St. locker Penn. However, the news isn’t room. A graduate student witnessed the event and happy, but extremely tragic.

Penn State University told Paterno. Paterno then and Joe Paterno have had a took that information to wonderful marriage for the PSU athletic director Tim last 45 years. Coach Paterno Curley. Paterno didn’t folis not only the face of the low up with Curley on football team, but an icon what happened, but it has for the university. He has now been discovered that more wins than any other Sandusky sexually abused NCAA Div. 1 college football at least eight young boys head coach and has led the and has been allowed to Nittany Lions to two na- walk freely for the last nine years since that incident. tional championships.

In the five days since However in light of a sex scandal that has rocked charges were handed down the campus of Penn State, by grand jury against San-

dusky, the media has been calling for Paterno’s job, citing the fact that he hadn’t done enough to stop the despicable crimes committed by Sandusky, an employee under Paterno.

Although I think he could have and should have done more, Paterno did what he was supposed to do: tell his superior. It is not Paterno’s job to be involved in the personal lives of his former coaches. It is, however, his duty to take care of his players and to win games on the football field. He isn’t the football police, he is the football coach.

The fault lies with Mr. Curley and with the university president, Graham Spanier. They are the ones who should have taken the case to the police and made

Volleyball

Advance: ACU prevails in five sets from page 8 a way to fight back. The team scored eight of the next nine points (led 17-12) and inched closer to what would be a major upset.

But the Wildcats had other plans.

The Wildcats, this year, are more than accustomed to being on the brink of defeat and the girls put together an incredible finish to the game.

Neely Borger and Rachel Riley both recorded multiple key blocks and kills in the last half of the second set.

The ‘Cats were one point away from being down 2-0 in the match at 22-24, but ACU would record the final four points and Sara Oxford ended the game with an enormous block.

She had four on the day.

The third and fourth games were mirror images of each other.

The third was all Wildcats, while the Aggies dominated the fourth.

Cameron couldn’t recover from its devastating defeat in the second game and trailed nearly the entire third set.

ACU might have played its toughest fifth set of the entire season with the Aggies.

Not only were the ‘Cats down 5-11, but there were three lead changes and five ties.

The Wildcats finished the match strong by scoring 14 of the final 20 points.

Aubree Vick made it 18-17 ACU on a clutch kill then Cameron shot itself in the foot with an attack error, giving Abilene Christian another comefrom-behind win.

Mock said the Aggies game-plan confused many of the Wildcats.

“The girls didn’t do a good job of adjusting at any point in this match, but we fought back and I was proud of the effort level.”

“Cameron started to push the ball to the deep corner which they hadn’t done against us before,” Mock said. “We were really tight today. I don’t think our team came in with the intensity level they needed to have.”

Jennie Hutt led the ‘Cat squad with 16 kills. Oxford had 14. Haley Rhoads helped the team with 59 assists and seven digs from the setter position.

contact isaacs at jei08a@acu.edu

mandy lambright staff Photographer

Sophomore forward Andrea Carpenter fights for possession of the ball in a game. sure Sandusky was behind bars. Spanier has been fired and Curley has been put on administrative leave, but the same fate shouldn’t have befallen Paterno.

The Penn St. Board of Trustees let Paterno go to stem the media firestorm, and although I understand why they did it, I know he didn’t deserve it. JoePa’s shining legacy will forever be tarnished by the media’s overreaction to this controversy.

This wasn’t the way it supposed to end for a man whom many students saw as not only a head coach, but as

a grandfather, or a mentor. he will continue to be the He should have left when he face of the Nittany Lions. was ready, on his own terms.

Joe Paterno has been contact gwin at Penn St. football for the last agg07a@acu.edu 45 years, and in my mind,

sports

Friday 11.11.11

8

standings

soccer

No. 17 ACU ready for revenge

football

Team

Div.

Ovrl.

MSU ACU WTAMU TSU TAMU-K ASU UIW ENMU Commerce

8-0 6-1 5-2 4-3 3-4 2-5 2-5 1-6 1-6

9-0 7-2 6-3 5-5 5-5 5-5 2-7 2-8 1-8

Team

Div.

Ovrl.

WTAMU ASU ACU TSU TWU Cameron TAMU-K MSU UIW

19-1 17-3 14-6 13-7 11-9 9-11 7-13 7-13 6-14

30-2 28-4 20-12 19-13 13-16 15-14 15-14 15-15 12-18

Team

Div.

Ovrl.

ACU MSU ENMU Commerce ASU WTAMU UIW TWU

13-0 9-4 6-5 6-6 5-6 5-8 3-7 1-12

18-1 13-5 8-8 8-9 6-9 9-10 5-7 1-14

volleyball

Women’s Soccer

briefings

mandy lambright staff Photographer

Senior midfielder Ashley Holton advances the ball up the field Friday, Nov. 4 in ACU’s 2-0 win over Texas A&M-Commerce. Holton is one of the three seniors on this year’s team and will likely play a big role in the team’s game on Sunday against the winner of the Midwestern State/St. Edwards game.

ACU excited for chance to host tourney

non-conference, conference and the post-season.

Sunday at 1 p.m., the No. 17 Wildcats will embark on the beginning of their postseason, which Wilson says is the most important of the three.

“Everything up to this bryson shake point is somewhat irrelsports editor evant,” Wilson said. “We are solely focused on the When asked to recollect the task at hand and doing season up to its current po- all we can to prolong our sition, ACU women’s soccer season. That’s a big task to head coach Casey Wilson say the least.”

That task begins Friday, initially divided the season into three separate phases: Nov. 11, as ACU, the top-

“

We are solely focused on the task at hand and doing all we can to prolong our season.”

bye in the first round and will play the winner of the St. Edwards and Midwestern State game that will be played on Friday.

“Having the opportunicasey wilson ty to play at home is a spehead coach cial thing,” Wilson said. “It ACU WOmen’s Soccer took us winning 18 games to get it. A lot of programs seeded team in the NCAA around the nation don’t South Central region, get to experience this, and plays host to the NCAA we’re hoping to use the loChampionship first and cation to our advantage.”

The Wildcats would second round matches Friday and Sunday, which be playing for something more than simply a win begin at 2 p.m.

The Wildcats earned a against either St. Edwards

or Midwestern State, ACU is looking for a little bit of revenge against both.

ACU has played the Mustangs three times this season, beating them twice in the regular season prior to losing 2-1 to them in Sunday’s Lone Star Conference Championship Game. The loss marked the program’s first during its 2011 campaign.

“The loss left a bitter taste in our mouth,” junior midfielder Julie Coppedge

Women’s soccer will host one of the NCAA South Central Regional tournaments this weekend at the Wildcat Soccer Pitch.

ACU is the No. 1 seed in the tournament.

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced ACU’s junior Chloe Susset as the South Central Region’s Women’s Athlete of the Year in Division II on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Football remains at No. 5 in the regional rankings released on Monday, Nov. 7. The final regional poll of the season will be released Sunday afternoon, Nov. 13. The top six see host page 7 teams reach the NCAA Division II playoffs.

WOmen’s BAsketball

Team looking forward to upcoming season, hopes for improvement focus and more expectations,” Lavender said. “We sports reporter are going in looking at a chance to win the league.”

Last season, the WildThe women’s basketball team looks forward to cats fell for the third this season and hopes for straight year in the Lonenothing less than a confer- Star Conference PostSeason Tournament in a ence championship.

Returning with a great heartbreaking 65-59 loss number of starting play- to No. 9 ranked Northers, Coach Shawna Laven- eastern State in the first der and her team are go- round of the tournament. ing into this season with The loss ended the ‘Cats season at 11-16. high expectations.

Despite last year’s Lavender, entering her ninth year as the women’s rough loss, Lavender is head coach, said she was convinced the team will excited to see the results of take off this season.

“We have a lot of experiall the hard work that has already gone into this season. ence back from last year,” “We’re back with more she said. “We were very

Natalie goin

young, and last year served us as a building year.”

At times last year, the team had three or four freshmen starting.

But many of these starters are returning this year with even more experience. Mack Lankford, last year’s LSC South Division Freshman of the Year, shares her coach’s ambition for the post season.

“I definitely have high expectations for the outcome of this season,” Lankford said. “It all starts here, and we have to work hard every game to get there.”

Last year, Lankford averaged nearly 20 points every game as the fresh-

man guard. Among the other returning starters are center Kelsey Smith, forwards Renata Marquez and Hilliari Adam and point guard Cecilee Perez.

In addition to these players, the ACU women’s basketball team has added two talented freshmen, Sadie Dickinson and Paige Parliament.

“Sadie and Paige have done a great job early,” Lavender said. “They jumped right into what we’re doing, and they add a great depth to our team.”

The Wildcats opened their season last Friday in a scrimmage at Houston Baptist losing 75-67,

but hung in there with the NCAA Division I team.

The team will take on Lubbock Christian in their first exposition game on Thursday.

“We’re going into this week as a new game,” Lankford said. “Instead of looking at our competition, we need to focus on ourselves this early in the season. That’s what will take us far this season.”

The Wildcats will begin their conference run Dec. 3 against Texas Women’s University. contact goin at nsg10b@acu.edu

volleyball

Wildcats inch past Cameron in five edward isaacs assistant SPorts Editor

adrian patenaude staff Photographer

Freshman Rachel Riley attempts to block a ball at Moody.

The Wildcat volleyball team finished a nail-bitter in exhilarating fashion on Thursday afternoon. No. 3 seeded ACU was able to pull out a 3-2 victory (20-25, 26-24, 25-16, 1825, and 19-17) against No. 6 seeded Cameron University in the Lone Star Conference Post-Season Tournament.

The win propels the ‘Cats into the semifinal round of the tournament on Friday.

They face No. 2 seed Angelo State University at 5 p.m. ASU was a 3-0 winner over No. 7 seed Midwestern State University.

Head coach Kellen Mock credits the Cam-

eron coaches for having their team prepared to play the Wildcats.

“They’re a great team no doubt about it. The coaches in this conference are taking their teams to a whole new level by using the talent they have and then coaching it in a way that makes sense. It’s hard to win in the LSC.” ACU is now 3-0 versus Cameron this season.

They improved their overall and conference record to 21-12 and 14-6. Cameron falls to 15-15 and 9-12 in the LSC. The first game of the match was close early as the Wildcats and Aggies traded points back-andforth. Cameron eventually jumped out and maintained a lead which

grew to five at 13-18. After Mock called a timeout at 15-22, ACU went on 5-2 run to make it 20-24, but it wasn’t enough. The ‘Cats had dug themselves into too large of a hole.

The Wildcats had a .235 hitting percentage for the set, while the Aggies hit .312.

Cameron continued its momentum and strong play in the second game leading 6-1 at one point.

With ACU down 4-9, Mock called a timeout, and this time it worked. The ‘Cats rallied off five straight points and seven out of eight in route to an 11-10 lead, its first of the set.

Unfortunately the advantage didn’t last, because the Aggies found

EX- FACTOR Chicago Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox recorded one reception for 14 yards and no touchdowns versus the Eagles on Monday, Nov. 7. The Bears won a close one, 30-24.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Benard Scott had 6 rushes for 24 yards and no touchdowns Sunday, Nov. 6 against the Titans. The Bengals won 24-17. On the year, Scott has 58 carries for 185 yards and a lone touchdown.

Danieal Manning, Texans safety, fractured his tibia on Sunday, Oct. 23 against the Titans. He had surgery to repair the fracture on Monday, Oct. 24.

Manning is expected to be out for four weeks.

Upcoming Men’s basketball plays in the ACU Whitten Inn Tipoff Classic on Friday, Nov. 11 at Moody Coliseum at 8 p.m.

The women’s soccer team will face the winner of St. Edward’s and Midwestern State match on Sunday, Nov. 13 in the South Central Region Tournament at the Wildcat Soccer Pitch at 2 p.m.

Football goes up against LSC foe Incarnate Word at Shotwell Stadium at 7 see Advance page 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5.